THE BABBIT. 



the juioiness of their flesh. Both extremes must be avoided. 

 Babbits fed largely on green-meat become flabby and soft- 

 fleshed, while, on the other hand, those that are fed entirely on 

 dry food — com and hay — ^become unpalatable on account of 

 the closeness and dryness of their flesh. Let com be tht> 

 standard diet and green-meat the corrective of this last-men- 

 tioned objectionable quality in rabbit meat. 



DISEASES or THE BABBIT AND HOW TO CUBE THEM. 



It is an wholesome maxim, and one that as well applies to 

 four as to two-legged animals, that diseases are more easily 

 avoided than cured. ' There is no such thing as running in debt 

 with nature and shirking payment. So surely as seeds fruc- 

 tify in the earth will the seeds of disease planted in living 

 creatures — whether wantonly, carelessly, or with brute obsti- 

 nacy — grow up apace and flourish. If we can stave off the 

 grim reaper, so much the better. 



If I had as many guineas as there are rabbits brought to an 

 untimely end in a single year through sheer neglect of their 

 keepers, I should be as rich as a Jew — as rich as that golden 

 Hebrew, Baron Rothschild. I'm sure I should be half as rich 

 if I had but the hides of the sacrificed animals, and sold the 

 sheared fleece to the hatters and to the bed-makers, and the 

 skins to the makers of fine glue. 



The disease called the " rot " is the rabbit's greatest enemy, 

 and he who delights to feed his rabbits on decaying green stuff, 

 is the best patron of the disease in question. Yoii will know 

 that your animals have this malady by their growing lean, and 

 by unsightly sores appearing on them, especially on their noses 

 and ears. If you set vigorously to work as soon as you observe 

 these symptoms you may effect a cure. Feed them entirely on 

 food of a dry and absorbent nature. Grround malt is a good 

 thing, as is ship biscuit, toasted bread, crushed beans, oak- 



